‘Bottomless chips really meant all you can eat’: World Cup travelers reveal their 18 greatest surprises in America

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jun 16, 2026 6:30 PM EDT

Are Americans just naturally nice? Or is that just the World Cup talkin'?

It's not the American niceness that's drawing travelers to North America, though. World Cup fans from all over the world have been flocking to the US of A for one reason and one reason only: Soccer. 

In truth, I don't know anything about soccer (futbol?), but I do know that Americans know how to do sports and fandoms, regardless of the court, the field, or the ball the teams are playing with. America and the Americans who live here have been flabbergasting the foreigners upon arrival, surprising everyone with a little dash of sweet tea, a healthy serving of fries, and a warm Buc-ces welcome to bring them into the States in style. 

Red, white, and blue is more than just a cultural mechanism; it's the salt by which our jerky is dried and the cinnamon sugar with which we dust our funnel cakes. America goes big and doesn't go home until the job is finished. Patriotism runs rampant on Reddit's r/AskReddit sub this week when a guy asked eager, traveling foreigners what most surprised them about their World Cup escapades. Let me tell ya, it's not the price of a Miller Lite at the concession stand, it's the size of the nacho plate that was supposed to just be a "side," and it's the extroverted tendencies of an entire people. 

Being in America is more than just the World Cup game experience; it's the entire picture of Hyatt hotel stays, Applebee's happy hours, and bottomless tortilla chips on the patio of a Mexican restaurant. Welcome to America, everyone!

Maybe while these travelers are at it, they can cruise over to NYC, enjoying a short, 35-hour northeast to watch a Knicks game. While no treks are simple day treks in America, at least we know how to send it when it comes to live events. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10639342848
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    Foreigners visiting America for the world cup, what is something that has surprised you about this country?
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    bryanemerson83. Americans are much nicer in person than they are online.
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  • I'm a little bit of an introvert, but I'd say that American niceness is compulsory and, when pressed into a social corner, I automatically default to overt friendliness. 

    Against my will, I'm the friendly American and the helpful American, even when I'm not feeling that social. Perhaps it's this knee-slapping reaction that's making everyone think that all Americans are friendly, or perhaps it's the mere truth that no other country is so chatty. 

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    Malyrtia ⚫ In a restaurant, the menu had entrees and desserts, and I thought 'These starters are huges, and where are the mains'? Took me a minute and then I realised you guys use that word for the main meal.
    via Malyrtia
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    elibutton ⚫ When we found out that "bottomless" chips and salsa didn't refer anything about our butts and it meant all you can eat - wow we don't have that
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    Kevin Uxbridge • Been reading twitter and instagram acconts of foreigners discovering what they've decided is pure, concentrated Americana: Buc-ees.
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    Apparently there's a shuttle service in Texas currently specializing in taking world cup travelers there. Hilarious.
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    EGzag⚫ People's friendliness. I mean, just impressed most people are pretty open to talk and interract.
    via EGzag
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    unsolicited advice. A coworker of mine from another country said he was blown away by the size of the freeways in California.
    via unsolicited advice
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    VeryPoliteYak⚫ As a non-American who gets along super well with you guys and has friends there, it's so nice to see some positivity about the US for once!
    via VeryPoliteYak
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    Champ_Slice · Family in town from Guatemala to watch the games. First thing they wanted to do when they landed is go to Target and Taco Cabana.
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    Ramdoriak • People have easiness on starting to talk with me, a complete stranger, in the middle of the supermarket.
    via Ramdoriak
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    And it's just a casual friendly talk which isn't common on countries where that would be the equivalent of distract-and- rob.
    via Ramdoriak
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    Cheezburger Image 10639342592
    via Pexels (Norma Mortenson)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    suburban_hyena ⚫ Added Tax. Why product say 5 dollar but cashier wants 550
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    Opposite-Courage8671 The sheer size of everything. you look at the map and think you can drive between cities easily, then realize its an all day trip.
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    Smokeydubbs ⚫ Anyone in KC last night; welcome to the Midwest. We have tornadoes.
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    Ay_sakurax. The size of the cars are insane!
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    softplumpedd How absurdly big everything is. You look at a map and think you can just drive to another city, then six hours later you are still in the same state.
    via softplumpedd
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    st11es ⚫ How accommodated, beautiful, preserved and clean are the public parks with water access everywhere
    via st11es

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